Approach for extended battery life network nodes
AssigneeSilver Spring Networks, Inc.
InventorsJana Van Greunen, William Pugh, Sterling Hughes
Life of this patent
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Abstract
In an embodiment, triplets of network-enabled FCIs operate to monitor the three phases of a power distribution system. In being network-enabled, the FCIs also operate as nodes of an RF mesh network. In an embodiment, upon the detection of a power failure, the triplet of network FCIs is serially operated so as to extend their networking capabilities by approximately three times.
Claims19
A computer-implemented method for increasing the operating time of a collection of battery-backed wireless network nodes, the method comprising:
- detecting a power outage within a plurality of power lines that power a plurality of nodes;
- in response to detecting the power outage, selecting a lead node from among the plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to access a wireless network, and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes that is not the lead node comprises a non-lead node;
- transitioning network functionality from the non-lead nodes to the lead node;
- and
- placing each non-lead node in a reduced power state for a respective predetermined time.
A non-transitory computer-readable medium including instructions that, when executed by a processor, causes the processor to manage a collection of battery-backed wireless network nodes, by performing the steps of:
- detecting a power outage within a plurality of power lines that power a plurality of nodes;
- in response to detecting the power outage, selecting a lead node from among the plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to access a wireless network, and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes that is not the lead node comprises a non-lead node;
- transitioning network functionality from the non-lead nodes to the lead node;
- and
- placing each non-lead node in a reduced power state for a respective predetermined time.
A wireless network device, comprising:
- a transceiver circuit configured to generate a radio signal based on a carrier signal and configured to receive a radio signal based on a carrier signal;
- and
- a processor that is coupled to the transceiver circuit and configured to:
- detect a power outage within a plurality of power lines that power a plurality of nodes;
- in response to detecting the power outage, select a lead node from among the plurality of nodes, wherein each node in the plurality of nodes is configured to access a wireless network, and wherein each node in the plurality of nodes that is not the lead node comprises a non-lead node;
- transition network functionality from the non-lead nodes to the lead node;
- and
- place each non-lead node in a reduced power state for a respective predetermined time.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.